Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 07:49:40 AM CDT

The S&P 500 rose 0.8 percent to 1,419.04 at 4 p.m. New York time. The index on March 30 completed its biggest first-quarter rally since 1998.

...

“The manufacturing data continue to show signs of improvement. It supports our modest pro- cyclical position.” Equities gained as manufacturing in the U.S. expanded at a faster pace than forecast in March, a sign that the industry is weathering slower global growth.

...

Investors snapped up shares of companies most tied to the economy.

...

The S&P’s first-quarter rally sent U.S. stocks above gold by the most in more than a decade, a sign of growing investor confidence in corporate profits as analysts raise earnings estimates for the first time this year.

...

“The problem with gold now is that people are starting to accept the economy recovery,” Birinyi, president of Westport, Connecticut-based Birinyi Associates Inc., said in a March 29 phone interview.

That pinko-commie-socialist-free-enterprise-hater Obamahas totally wrecked the US Economy!!! Just look how he's ruined the stock market since George W. Bush left office ...

The "Failed Socialist Administration of Kenyan Muslim Obama" has driven the economy into the ground!
(0.00 / 0)

Just look at the Dow Jones!

When Obama came into office, it was at less than 8000, never mind, just move along, nothing to see here, these aren't the droids you're looking for...

Now, in all reality, the Dow Jones is a crappy indicator of general prosperity - it is good at indicating how willing players at the Wall Street track are to bet on a particular favorite dog, or trifecta of dogs.

But the Beltway and Finance Villagers who determine our national discourse have enshrined the DJIA as the oracle of economic prospects. So, since that is the metric...